KR20010078030A - Electrical connector for removable components - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An electric connector for a detachable component is provided to promote reliability by reducing a price and a volume and to compact the structure of an electric connector. CONSTITUTION: An electrical connector assembly combines a latches(34) and electrical contacts into an integral connector assembly. The latch is partially surrounded by a stacked connector(36). The latch with a housing(22) and the stacked connector includes a connector contact housing including a plurality of stacked contacts to provide an electrical connection between a first and a second electrical circuits. The connector contact housing is in a U shape and partially surrounds at least a portion of the latch. The stacked connector engages with a receptacle well(38) having a plurality of corresponding stacked receptacle contacts(62a-62f). The plurality of stacked contacts is positioned to provide balanced contact loading along at least one axis of the stacked connector. Therefore, the stacked contacts are arranged in an opposing manner.

Description

Electrical Connectors for Detachable Accessories {ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR REMOVABLE COMPONENTS}

The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, in particular electrical connectors for use in electronic devices and removable battery covers.

Portable devices that use batteries, such as cell phones, Internet devices, personal organizers, point of sale terminals (POS), handheld calculators, and other handheld devices, are usually the parent device to which they are connected. Increasingly, smaller and smaller removable accessories are used. For example, a user can insert a credit card, smart card, or other information input device into a mobile phone to function as a telephone device, an internet device, an ATM, and other compact portable products. A cell phone employing a card reader for generating a smart card is proposed. Such small portable devices usually require small connectors that electrically and mechanically interconnect different subsystems or components.

Removable accessories therefore typically have to be connected to a mother board or other electrical circuit of another part of the main device. Problems arise when such accessories have to be integrated into a compact handheld device. For example, batteries commonly used to power cell phone circuits or sales information recording terminal circuits can be expensive items and can also occupy a large portion of the volume of the main device or accessories.

Batteries are usually one of the largest parts of portable devices. In addition, it is desirable to maximize the storage area of the battery because usually larger cells provide longer battery life to the main device and / or accessory devices. For example, a conventional cellular phone has a battery cover which does not surround the battery but covers only a primary battery located in the main body of the main apparatus. An example is the model number P7389 GSM three-band handset from Motorola, Harvard, Illinois, USA. Push button latches allow the user to remove the battery cover to replace the main battery in the main unit when needed. However, such battery covers typically do not include an accessory device and also do not include an electrical connection between the battery cover and the circuitry in the housing of the main device.

One solution to card reading accessories has been to redesign the battery compartment for the main device and to redesign the battery itself to accommodate the addition of accessories. For example, in order to replace an accessory battery by combining an accessory such as a card reader with an integrated battery of an integral accessory module, the user must purchase the entire accessory module. The accessory battery replaces the main battery normally used by the main unit. In order to connect electrical circuits, including signaling busses, power, ground wires, and other signal lines, between the accessory and the main circuit, flexible circuits are typically added, designed to surround the accessory cell and provide a contact interface. It is designed to electrically connect the circuit board of the accessory device to the circuit board of the main device. These flexible circuit and connector interfaces can increase costs, take up additional volume, and reduce reliability. This may also increase the size of the accessory device and / or the main device.

As an alternative, the accessory device is often attached to an existing mobile phone or other electronic device, for example via a base plug that is typically located at the base of the main device housing. Base plugs are commonly used to allow external power connections to recharge the battery. For example, car lighters and conventional outlets can be used to recharge the battery through the base plug. In addition, microphones, speakers, and other accessories can also be coupled to the bass plug. But usually larger accessories slide over the battery cover and draw power from the base plug. Such accessories usually protrude from the side edges of the main housing, making the main device unnecessarily long. By attaching in this way, the base plug can be covered. In order to access the main unit, additional base plugs will have to be added to the accessory unit. This can increase the cost. Another problem arises. Card readers and other devices that send and receive extremely proprietary information may need to comply with tamper evidence standards.

For example, portable and non-portable devices typically need to be designed so that such forgery can be easily recognized if the device is forged. When a credit card reader is attached to a mobile phone or other device, it is required to send secret credit card information and bank account information through the device for financial transactions. Such devices usually should not allow access through external plugs to prevent hackers from gaining confidential information. Thus, if the base plug is combined with a card reader or other suitable device, the base plug must not provide external access. Therefore, dual base plugs should be provided that allow the main unit to receive power to the base plug or information about other accessories, while still being isolated from the accessory. This can significantly increase the cost and complexity of the device.

As another solution, a smart battery having a card reading capability has been used. For example, some cell phones have subscriber identity modules (SIMs) that can slide into the slots of the battery. The battery contains an electrical circuit that can read the subscriber identity module and provides information to the accessory device. In addition, the card reading circuit is also integrated in the cell. However, such devices usually use additional batteries in the accessory device and are usually integrated in an integrated module, which requires the user to purchase a new accessory device when the battery of the accessory device needs to be replaced. In addition, another battery is usually required for normal operation of the phone when the accessory is removed. This unnecessarily increases the cost and complexity of the system. In addition, such a system employs a connector that uses electrical contacts for accessories that are usually the same as those used in the main circuit. For example, the subscriber identification module may be detached as part of the phone and deployed as a plug-in subscriber identification module as part of the accessory. The subscriber identity module contacts of the existing primary device are connected to a multiplexing circuit inside the accessory (e.g., smart battery) to allow both the subscriber identity module and the accessory to multiplex to the primary device subscriber identity module contact block. However, such devices can be quite expensive and complex.

Other known cell phones have an integrated battery and battery modules connected to each other to the main device and / or accessories via two rows of stacked contacts. Two rows of stacked contacts are usually offset in height, so different contacts are used depending on the type of accessory. Such stacked contacts are usually arranged such that the elasticity of the contact between the cellular phone body and the battery module acts away from the cellular phone body. This results in an increase in the gap between the cell and the device. For example, a cell phone with two rows of stacked contacts usually has two rows of contacts located on the back and the battery module slides into place so that the flexible contacts of the battery module come into contact with the inflexible stacked contacts coming from the body of the phone. do. Moreover, the battery module does not include a removable battery cover, so the user must buy the entire battery module when the battery needs to be replaced.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved electrical connector, removable battery cover and electronic device to overcome the above problems.

1 is a front perspective view of an electronic device in the form of a mobile phone containing a card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an exploded view showing an example of a removable battery cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of a top perspective view and a latch showing an example of a removable battery cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the stacked connector of Figure 5 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the stacked connector of Figure 6 showing an example of a stacked contact according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 illustrates an example of a well-type connector receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

24: removable battery cover

34 clasp

36: Stacked Connectors

38: Well Connector Receptacle

40: connector contact housing

42: well clasp

46: unlocking surface

48: deflection member

50: protruding locking member

60a-60f: Multiple Stacked Contacts

62a-62f: Multiple Stacked Receptacle Contacts

76: printed circuit board

78: printed circuit board support plate

102: contact protection tab

128: tab with contact

The electrical connector assembly combines the clasp and electrical contacts into one integrated connector assembly. The clasp is partially surrounded by the stacked connector. The clasp is hung in the housing and the stacked connector includes a connector contact housing having a plurality of stacked contacts to provide electrical connection between the first and second electrical circuits. In one embodiment, the connector contact housing is “U” shaped and partially surrounds at least a portion of the clasp, such as a well clasp. The stacked contacts of the stacked connector are coupled with a plurality of corresponding stacked receptacle contacts in the well receptacle. The plurality of stacked contacts are positioned so that the contact loads are balanced at least along one axis of the stacked connector. Thereby, in one embodiment the stacked contacts are arranged oppositely.

In another embodiment, the removable battery cover uses clasps and stacked connectors. The removable battery cover includes, for example, an electrical circuit embedded in the removable battery cover on a printed circuit board. The removable battery cover may have a printed circuit board support plate, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically connected to another printed circuit board located in a separate housing, such as the main device housing, via a stacked connector. The separate housing has a battery storage area. The removable battery cover covers the battery located in the battery storage area. When the removable battery cover includes an electric circuit for providing a card reader or other accessory, for example, the removable battery cover can be inexpensive since it does not contain a battery. If accessories are not needed, conventional battery covers without electrical circuits are used, for example to provide compatibility between the main electronic device with the accessory and the electronic device without the accessory.

In yet another embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing having a battery storage area, a well-type connector receptor, and an electrical circuit that receives energy from a battery stored in the battery storage area. The electronic device also includes a removable battery cover having a clasp and stacked connectors. Thus, the electronic device is electrically and mechanically connected to a removable battery cover that houses the accessory.

1 shows an example of an electronic device 10, such as a cellular phone, that includes, for example, an accessory device, such as a card reader that reads a magnetic or smart card 12 or other accessory device. Although not limited to this form, the invention disclosed herein is described in connection with a portable telephone device. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be equally applicable to other electronic devices. For example, Internet devices, electronic organizers, portable calculators, touch pads or touchscreen-based devices, digital audio players, and other suitable devices may also suitably utilize the electrical connectors described herein. For example, the electronic device includes a screen display window 14, a telephone input key 16, a plurality of control keys 18, and an antenna 20 for wireless communication. The card 12 may be a storage medium, a smart card with a microprocessor or other circuitry, or other suitable card, information processor or information providing or receiving device.

2 is a rear perspective view of an electronic device 10 that includes a housing 22 and a card slot 26 and a removable battery cover 24 having an appropriate card reading circuit. The electronic device 10 also has a base plug 28 located at the base of the housing 22.

3 is an exploded view of an electronic device 10 having a housing 22 having a front housing 25 and a rear housing 26. However, it will be appreciated that a single housing may be desirable. The housing 22 has a battery storage area 28 located in the rear housing 26. The housing 22 also has a first electrical circuit 30, such as a telephone-related circuit or other suitable electronic circuit or circuitry that receives power from a battery stored in the battery storage area 28. As used herein, “electrical circuit” includes but is not limited to any optical or electrical component (s), circuit (s), interface, electrical contacts, electrical systems, electrical / mechanical subsystems. In this embodiment, the first electrical circuit 30 passes through the battery storage region (not shown) through the protruding contacts (not shown) passing through the contact opening 32 known in the art from the front housing 25 to the rear housing 26. Power is received from the battery of 28). Corresponding contacts on the outer surface of a cell (not shown) known in the art allow for proper contact with the protruding contact when the cell is inserted into the cell storage area 28.

3, 4 and 5, an electronic device having an electrical connector assembly will be described. The removable battery cover 24 has a latch 34 coupled with the stacked connector 36. As used herein, “clasp” may include a structure having only a portion of an interconnecting clasp arrangement, or may include a complete clasp arrangement. The stacked connector 36 may be coupled with the well connector receptor 38. In this embodiment the well-shaped connector receptacle 38 may be snapped into the housing 22, for example the rear housing 26. Stacked connector 36 has a molded connector contact housing 40 adapted to at least partially surround at least a portion of clasp 34. In this embodiment, the connector contact housing 40 has a "U" shape. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable orientation or shape may be used.

Clasp 34 may be formed by well-formed clasp 42 integrally cast as part of removable battery cover 24. The well clasp 42 receives the movement of a clasp part, such as the member 50 of a button. However, it will be appreciated that the well clasp 42 may be a separate part if necessary. The well-shaped clasp 42 has a casting spring guide pillar 44, a lock release surface 46 such as a clasp button, and a biasing member such as a spring 48. In this embodiment the unlocking surface 46 has a protruding locking member 50 which locks with a corresponding lip 52 of the housing 22, ie the rear housing 26. The latch button, spring 48, and spring guide post 44 may be of conventional battery cover locking design. When the removable battery cover 24 slides properly over the battery, the latch 34 is hooked to the rear housing 26 so that the removable battery cover 24 does not fall off. The spring 48 biases the locking member 50 to an upward position with respect to the front housing 25 such that the locking member 50 is coupled to the lip 52. In order to remove the removable battery cover 24, the lock release surface is pressed, and the spring is pressed so that the lip 52 and the locking member 50 are separated.

The well clasp 42 has an outer surface which operatively engages with the inner surface of the connector contact housing 40. A pair of guide slots 53a, 53b are located on both sides of the well-shaped clasp to receive the guide ribs 55a, 55b (see Fig. 6). In this embodiment, the well clasp 42 and the connector contact housing 40 can be mated and coupled in a snap coupling manner to provide an assembly of the clasp and the laminated connector. The connector contact housing 40 has a plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f. The plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f provide an electrical connection between the removable battery cover 24 and the electrical circuit 30 embedded in the housing 22.

Referring to Figure 3, the well receptacle 38 has a plurality of corresponding stacked receptacle contacts 62a-62f. The plurality of corresponding stacked receptacle contacts 62a-62f are positioned to engage (eg, elastic contact) with the plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f so that the first circuit 30 and the removable battery in the housing 22 are located. It provides an electrical connection between the second circuit 64 in the cover 24. As shown, the connector contact housing 40 and the well receptacle 38 are three-dimensional connector components.

The well receptacle 38 is defined by the base 66, the first sidewall 68, and the second sidewall 70. The first sidewall 68 has some of the plurality of stacked receptacle contacts, ie receptacle contacts 62a-62c, while the second sidewall 70 has stacked receptacle contacts 62d-62f. The well receptacle 38 is designed to snap into the opening 72 to provide a receptacle for the stacked connector 36.

4, the removable battery cover 24 has an integral well clasp 42 located at its tip. The removable battery cover 24 has an electrical circuit 64 operatively connected therein. The electrical circuit 64 may be placed on a printed circuit board 76 supported by a printed circuit board support plate 78, for example. The support plate 78 is fixed to the removable battery cover 24 through screws 80a and 80b which are screwed into the respective bosses 82a and 82b. When the removable battery cover 24 in this embodiment has a card reader, the card retaining spring 84 is properly positioned relative to the card slot 26 and supported by the spring receptacle 86 so that the card is inserted into the slot 26. Is kept pressed to be in contact with the smart card reading circuit on the printed circuit board 76 when inserted. The printed circuit board support plate 78 has a card support wall 92 along its periphery to ensure that the card is at a predetermined height above the circuit 64. The flexible circuit 90 functions as an interface between the stacked contacts 60a-60f and the conductors of the circuit 64 to provide electrical continuity between the circuit 64 and the stacked contacts 60a-60f. do.

The stacked connector 36 has a connector tab 94 protruding from the top surface and is engaged with a corresponding receptacle 112 on one side of the support plate 78 of the removable battery cover 24. The stacked connector 36 is coupled to the latch 34 via, for example, a protruding flexible portion 104 and a hole 110 or other suitable attachment arrangement, and is also coupled to the removable battery cover 24. .

6 is a perspective view of the connector contact housing 40. The plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f are arranged so that the contact loads are balanced along the axis of the stacked connector 36. In the present embodiment, the plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f are positioned to be balanced along the direction of the longitudinal axis 100. For example, the laminated contact 60a is located opposite to the laminated contact 60d. The stacked contacts 60a, 60b, 60c are located symmetrically with respect to the stacked contacts 60d, 60e, 60f about the longitudinal axis 100. Stacked contacts 60a-60c are positioned (ie stacked) in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane formed by base 106. The stacked contacts 60a-60c are located on the outer surface of the connector contact housing. Similarly, the stacked contacts 60d-60f are also located (ie stacked) in the vertical direction in the same horizontal plane as the stacked contacts 60a-60c. The stacked contacts 60d-60f are also located on the outer surface of the connector contact housing.

The connector contact housing 40 has a pair of integrally formed contact protection tabs 102a, 102b. These contact protection tabs 102a, 102b are located below each set of stacked contacts and are vertically aligned so that the clasp 34 and stacked connector 36 are in contact contact damage when inserted into the well receptacle 38. Protect it. The contact protection tabs 102a, 102b have a generally curved shape corresponding to the protruding flexible portion 104 of the stacked contacts 60a-60f. The contact protection tabs 102a, 102b protrude outward from the connector contact housing 40. The plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f can be bent by the protruding flexible portion 104. Thus portions of the stacked contacts 60a-60f elastically project outward from the connector contact housing 40 to engage (eg, elastically contact) the receptacle contacts 62a-62f.

Alternatively, stacked contacts 60a-60f may be inflexible. In such an embodiment, the receptacle contacts 62a-62f protrude inward and are in frictional contact with the inflexible stacked contacts. Thus, it may be desirable to provide flexible contacts inside the well receptacle instead of providing on the stacked connector.

The contact protection tabs 102a, 102b are located on the base 106 of the connector contact housing 40 and function as an insertion guide from the front portion 108 (FIG. 3) of the well receptacle 38 to the well receptacle. And the stacked contacts 60a and 60d both serve to prevent damage when they are inserted axially downward into the well receptacle 38. For example, the contact protection tabs 102a, 102b prevent the sidewalls 66, 68 from initially contacting the stacked contacts when the removable battery cover 24 is inserted downward into the well receptacle 38. . The contact protection tabs 102a, 102b also serve as keying taps so that the removable battery cover 24 cannot be fitted to an older device. However, since the clasp area of the old cover is of the same design and area that the well receptacle allows, the existing battery cover can be used to cover the battery of the electronic device 10.

The connector contact housing 40 also has an attachment member, such as a clasp tab 109, near the base 106 that engages with the hole 110 (see FIG. 4) of the base of the well clasp 42. The connector tab 94 is engaged to the surface of the removable battery cover. In this embodiment, the connector tab 94 is engaged with the protruding face of the slot 112 of the printed circuit board support plate 78. Connector contact housing 40 has an attachment member, such as clasp tab 109 or other suitable attachment mechanism, which may be connected with clasp 36 through the base of a well clasp, for example, and also with connector tab 94 Has a second attachment member that can be connected to the housing. However, it will be appreciated that the connector contact housing 40 may be properly attached to the removable battery cover in any suitable position, orientation, or method.

6 and 7, the flexible circuit 90 has a plurality of holes 114 that receive the projecting ends 116 at each of the stacked contacts 60a-60f so that the flexible circuit 90 It is properly aligned in place. The holes 114 are plated and soldered to the protruding ends 116. The connector contact housing 40 has contact alignment grooves 120 for each of the plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f. Each contact alignment groove 120 has an alignment groove surface 122 that aligns each of the stacked contacts 60a-60f. Alignment groove face 122 is appropriately shaped to receive the inflexible portion 124 of each stacked contact.

The connector contact housing 40 also has a plurality of contact alignment slots 126a, 126b associated with each of the stacked contacts 60a-60f. Contact alignment slots 126a and 126b receive contact attachment tabs 128a and 128b, respectively. The contact attachment tabs 128a and 128b are formed to protrude perpendicularly from the stem surface 130 of each contact. Each stacked contact 60a-60f has a non-flexible portion 124 and a flexible portion 104. In this embodiment, the flexible portion 104 is the bent tip of the contact. The contact retaining surface 132 located at the end of the flexible portion 104 is positioned to face the pair of retaining surfaces 134a and 134b of the connector contact housing 40 so that the flexible portion 104 when no external force is present. ) Stays in place. The contact alignment groove surface 122 is interposed between the holding surface 134a and the holding surface 134b.

Each stacked contact 60a-60f is held in the connector contact housing 40 via attachment tabs 128a, 128b. Each attachment tab 128a, 128b is pressed into the alignment slots 126a, 126b. The alignment slots 126a, 126b are defined by slot walls with inclined surfaces 136, which are inclined inward so that the attachment tabs 128a, 128b are easily guided into the slots. The attachment tabs 128a, 128b may be joined to the surface of the connector contact housing, ie the walls defining the slots 126a-126b. The width of the alignment slots 126a, 126b is suitably dimensioned to be slightly smaller than the width of the head 140 of the attachment tabs 128a, 128b. In this way, the plastic connector contact housing 40 allows the attachment tabs 128a, 128b to be inserted into the alignment slots 126a, 126b, but because the head is larger, the contact from the alignment groove 120 is dropped. Is prevented. Thus, each stacked contact has a curved flexible portion 104 and at least one attachment tab 128a or 128b. It will be appreciated that any suitable connection technique or apparatus may be used. Each stacked contact 60a-60f may be formed of a conductive material, such as a metal, plated metal, plated plastic, or other suitable electrically conductive material.

8 shows one embodiment of a well receptacle 38. The well receptacle 38 is preferably manufactured by casting a plastic portion of the well receptacle 38 around a metal lead frame 150. The metal lead frame 150 has stacked receptacle contacts 62a-62f. The receptacle contacts 62a-62f are located at one end of the leadframe 150 and the interconnect surfaces 152a-152f are located at the other end. The interconnect surfaces 152a-152f are used to interconnect with the printed circuit board of the host device or to provide other necessary electrical connections. The receptacle contact 62d is shorter than the other receptacle contacts 62a-62c, 62e and 62f, resulting in a final contact with the electrical connector assembly. This contact is usually used to power accessory devices. In this way, the signal lines are properly connected first before the power is connected or shorted by the last connection and the first disconnection.

The well-type connector receptacle 38 not only accommodates the stacked connector 36 but also has an extension 154 adapted to receive the flexible connector 156 so as to be fully connected with the contacts on the printed circuit board of the housing. Position the male connector. Extension 154 includes interconnect surfaces 152a-152f. Extension 154 houses a flexible connector 156, such as an elastomeric membrane or other suitable electrical connector. The flexible connector 156 is pressed against the connecting portion on the printed circuit board of the main device so that electrical connection with the accessory device through the laminated connector is made with the printed circuit board of the main device. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable connector may be used, such as a flexible strip or other suitable connector. Extension 154 is integrally cast as part of well receptacle 38. Extension 154 has a mounting surface 158 that mechanically engages with a corresponding mounting surface of housing 22 to hold the well receptacle in a fixed position.

The well receptacle 38 has an inclined surface 160 on each sidewall 68, 70. Each inclined surface 160 has a stacked connector 36 and a clasp 34 inserted into the well receptacle 38. Function as the front and back for the flexible portion 104 of the contacts 60a-60f. The well receptacle 38 also has a lower guide slot 162 through which the protective tabs 102a, 102b are guided in as the stacked connector slides forward to contact the receptacle contacts.

In order to position the removable battery cover 24 onto the housing 22, the protective tabs 102a, 102b are positioned to align with the rear end 170 (see FIG. 3) of the receptacle housing. Next, the electrical connector assembly of the removable battery cover is pushed downward so that the removable battery cover 24 rests on the guide service 54. The electrical connector assembly and the removable battery cover then slide longitudinally forward toward the front end 172 of the well receptacle 38. As the electrical connector assembly moves forward, the flexible stacked contacts slide along the inclined surface 160 to contact the receptacle contacts 62a-62f. The protruding locking member 50 is hung on the lip 52 to secure the cover and electrical contacts in place.

To remove the removable battery cover, the latch button is pressed and the cover slides back toward the end of the housing 22. The electrical connector assembly will then be in contact with the cell in the cell storage area. The removable battery cover is then lifted up and away from the housing.

The compact combined clasps and electrical connectors disclosed herein are sized to occupy the same space as conventional clasps, allowing the use of conventional battery covers on newer electronic devices that can be combined with accessories. Load-balanced stacked contacts reduce contact bounce problems and the contacts are properly protected during insertion. The removable battery cover also does not have to include a battery, reducing the cost of the accessory. Other advantages will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art (hereinafter referred to as "the person skilled in the art").

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. For example, the latch member may comprise a protrusion, a corresponding detent, a sliding side locking protrusion or interconnect, or other suitable mechanism. The clasp may have a release piece of plastic or other material extending from the lid and deflectable by the flexibility of the plastic. In such an embodiment, the clasp need not have a button and spring arrangement. Other latch arrangements may also be used. Accordingly, it is contemplated that any and all improvements, modifications, or equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the basic basic principles disclosed and claimed herein will be included in the present invention.

Claims (10)

With clasp (34) A stacked connector 36 having a connector contact housing 40 adapted to at least partially surround at least a portion of the clasp 34, The connector contact housing 40 has a plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f to provide an electrical connection between the removable battery cover 24 and the electrical circuit 30 embedded in a separate housing 22 of the device. Removable battery cover. The removable battery cover according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stacked contacts (60a-60f) are positioned so that the contact loads are balanced along at least one axis (100) of the stacked connector. 2. The removable battery cover according to claim 1, wherein the latch (34) has a locking member (50), an unlocking surface (46) and a biasing member (48). 2. The removable battery cover according to claim 1, wherein the clasp (34) has a well clasp (42) that is operatively engageable with the connector contact housing (40). 2. The removable battery cover according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit (64) is operatively connected inside the removable battery cover (24). A printed circuit board support plate (78) is provided, Removable battery cover, characterized in that the electrical circuit 64 is located on the printed circuit board 76 supported by the printed circuit board support plate (78). 6. The removable battery cover according to claim 5, wherein the electric circuit is a card reader. The removable battery cover according to claim 1, wherein the connector contact housing (40) has at least a first contact protection tab (102a) and a second contact protection tab (102b). The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of stacked contacts 60a-60f A set of at least first stacked contacts 60a-60c, each contact positioned on an outer side of the connector contact housing 40 perpendicular to the horizontal plane defined by the base 106 of the connector contact housing 40. Wow Each contact having at least a second set of stacked contacts 60d-60f positioned on the outer side of the connector contact housing 40 in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane defined by the base 106, Removable battery cover, characterized in that the set of first and second stacked contacts (60a-60c and 60d-60f) are symmetrically positioned about the longitudinal axis (100) of the connector contact housing (40). 3. A plurality of stacked contacts (60a-60f) each having a curved flexible portion (104) and an attachment tab (128a or 128b) that can engage the surface of the connector contact housing (40). Removable battery cover, characterized in that.